Acts 16:1-13 Come over here, but don't go there!

The Macedonian Vision

      1Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, 2and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. 3Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe. 5So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.

      6They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

      11So putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis; 12and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days. 13And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.

"And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek"

His father was a Greek.—Literally, of a Greek father. The adjective is used, as in the New Testament generally, to express the fact that he was a heathen.

Heathen; an unconverted member of a people or nation that does not acknowledge the God of the Bible.

http://biblehub.com/commentaries/acts/16-1.htm

Are you or are anyone you know a heathen?

"and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts".

16:3 he ... circumcised him. As a matter of expediency so that his work among the Jews might be more affective. This was different from Titus's case (see Gal 2:3), where circumcision was refused because some were demanding it was necessary for salvation.

"they were delivering the decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe."

that were ordained of the apostles which were at Jerusalem; concerning the abstinence of the Gentiles from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, Acts 15:20.

"5So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily."

Acts 9:31

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

What are we doing to strengthen and increase the number daily?

"having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;"

 forbidden of the Holy Ghost by some revelation, though the manner is not known, 

http://biblehub.com/commentaries/acts/16-6.htm

"they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;"

Has Jesus ever closed a door on you?

"A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”"

God speaks to us in the bible, dreams, visions, through our heart and .... 

What method does He use with you?

"When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."

Do you act when God speaks to you? Or does your flesh react?

"13And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled."

This was unusual for men to speak directly to women, especially strangers. But you will see tomorrow whom Jesus intended to bring to salvation.

Recommended reading; Mistaken Identity, two families, one survivor, unwavering hope. A very good book of Faith. Once you start you won't want to put it down. Cecilia and I read it to each other. If you are married, what do you and your spouse do together? 

Blessings, David 

Scripture blog; http://stanfordsancutaryscripturestudies.blogspot.com